File 600/1905 Pt 5 'Aden Hinterland: Treaty with Sultan of Balahaf' [‎124v] (32/152)

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was based, require the complete submission of Mohsin to the existing position
and guarantees for his future good conduct, and that he will do his utmost to
co-operate in maintaining the position sanctioned by Government, unless it is
altered with their approval and sanction. The Governor in Council would be
glad to learn what Mohsin proposes to do to satisfy Government on this point
and what guarntees he proposes to furnish that his own conduct is loyal and
good, and that his influence on the tribe is used to maintain the existing order.
His Excellency in Council cannot place much value on a submission which is
simply a candidature for the titular Chiefship of the tribe and a disclaimer of
all responsibility, if unsuccessful ; and Mohsin should be given to understand
that he will be held responsible for his personal conduct.
4. I am also to request that you will furnish Government with an exact
statement of the terms and promises on which Mohsin is at present at Aden,
together with a copy of the letter on which he came in.
5. In conclusion, I am to invite a perusal of Brigadier-General Jopp's
letter No. 20, dated the 5th May 1894, especially paragraph 11 and accompani
ment E, and to enquire whether the shares in Balahaf are still distributed on
the same basis, and who would now be competant to bind the tribe by a docu
ment such as Appendix F, to that letter.
Letter No. 142, dated the 9th January 1905.
From— Major-General H. M. Mason, Political Resident A senior ranking political representative (equivalent to a Consul General) from the diplomatic corps of the Government of India or one of its subordinate provincial governments, in charge of a Political Residency. , Aden,
To C., H. A. Hill, Lsq., C.I, E., Acting Secretary to the Government of Bombay From c. 1668-1858, the East India Company’s administration in the city of Bombay [Mumbai] and western India. From 1858-1947, a subdivision of the British Raj. It was responsible for British relations with the Gulf and Red Sea regions. ,
Political Department.
With reference to your letter No. 8010, dated the 29th December 1904,
relative to the affairs of Balahaf, I have the honour to forward, herewith, a
copy of the translation of the letter dated the 13th August 1902, written to
Mohsin bin Saleh by the then acting Resident, Lieutenant-Colonel Abud, in
which Mohsin was informed that Ahmed bin Saleh would not he released until
the looted specie was restored. I enclose also copies of translation of letters
sent to Saleh Abdulla and Ahmed bin Saleh to a similar effcet. The above
promise, it will be seen, was conveyed to Mohsin long before the receipt of the
orders of Government, which were dated the 15th October 1902, and did not
reach Aden till the 2ord idem.
2. The whole of the looted specie consisting of 6,020 and Rs. 140 was
paid back in November. As to why the payment of the said amount should be
regarded as restitution in full of the stolen property, I would explain that
though in the letter of 13th August 1902, alluded to above, reference is made
to other goods besides the specie, the subsequent negotiations related only to
the restitution of, the specie. This was presumably because of the uncertainty
as to what became of the other goods, as will appear from paragraph 19 of
Lieutenant-Colonel Abud’s letter No. 196, dated the 19th July 1902.
3. In regard to the third query in your letter, enquiring why I consider
that Government should accept statements made by Mohsin in spite of his
letters at the time of the wreck to Sultan Ghalib and his then action as reported
by the Political Resident A senior ranking political representative (equivalent to a Consul General) from the diplomatic corps of the Government of India or one of its subordinate provincial governments, in charge of a Political Residency. , I would venture to observe that the purport of
Mohsin’s statements is that before the bombardment of the port of Balahaf he
was not given sufficient opportunity to explain his action in reference to the
wreck and to restore the specie, which he was all along willing to surrender.
This contention is not a new one, hut he has maintained it from the very com
mencement as will appear from his letters to this Residency An office of the East India Company and, later, of the British Raj, established in the provinces and regions considered part of, or under the influence of, British India. , dated the 25th July
and 7th September 19U2 (copies of translations enclosed). Of course, in the
letters to Sultan Ghalib referred to by Government, Mohsin appears to have
spoken of surrendering the money if he were allowed to retain a share of it. To
this he lias made no reference in his present statement, but it seems to me
that in writing to the above effect to Sultan Ghulib he really meant only to
claim salvage money like other Chiefs on the coast, as will be evident from his
letter of.7th September 1902 cited above. It appears to me, therefore, that
there is sincerity in Mohsin’s explanation.